To USB or Not to USB

I’m proud to report Synopsys is the first and only company to demonstrate a real USB 3.0 Host and USB 3.0 Device working with a real MIPI M-PHY and not only demonstrating traffic, but demonstrating how we can pass the tests run by the standard USB Compliance Verifier (USBCV) 3.0.

Before we begin, remember that SSIC is USB 3.0 SuperSpeed InterChip. It allows for the use of USB 3.0 inside the box, and on the circuit board. Not external physical connectors. All on PCB using FR4 traces of up to 10cm long. SSIC uses a MIPI M-PHY so the power consumption is between 40-80% lower than a standard USB 3.0 PHY while still providing a throughput
The USBCV tests are used to test USB 3.0 Hosts and Peripherals for compliance.

In our setup, we use the HAPS51-2 with a MIPI M-PHY on a daughter card for both the USB 3.0 Host and Device implementations. Each is connected to a standard PC.

Our USB 3.0 Host PC, we run Windows 7 with a MCCI USB 3.0 Host drive.

On our USB 3.0 Device, the PC uses a Linux driver. The Device is, like all of our other demos, a USB Mass Storage Device. (Basically a giant USB flash drive)

The connection between the two systems is only 4 co-ax cables running from the M-PHY on one platform to the other platform. Since SSIC is really for on PCB or for modules.

Eric started working on USB in 1995, starting with the world’s first BIOS that supported USB Keyboards and Mice while at Award Software. After a departure into embedded systems software for real-time operating systems, he returned to USB IP cores and software at inSilicon, one of the leading suppliers of USB IP. In 2002, inSilicon was acquired by Synopsys and he’s been here since. He also served as Chairman of the USB On-The-Go Working Group for the USB Implementers Forum from 2004-2006.

Eric received an M.B.A. from Santa Clara University and an M.S. in Engineering from University of California Irvine, and a B.S. in Engineering from the University of Minnesota. and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Civil Engineering in the State of California.